Thinking of buying a Dutchman Aspen trail . Any advice on any campers . Are they worth it . 12 years is a long time to pay for something you can only are in the summer

I've owned a camper for the past 10 years. I tent camped a lot before that...Are they worth it? For me getting out in nature with my family and listening to the quite then being able to fall asleep on an actual bed... totally worth every penny. My advice, write up a pro's and con's list for what you need (need not want) in a camper. Too many people over buy and too many under buy, take the time and figure out how much space you want and how you want it configured and look at as many trailers as you can and find the best fit for you. Hope this helps... Happy Camping!!!

I would research things pretty well. There is a ton of junk out there. This video is worth watching. My advice is to stay away from anything that is sold as an "lite weight" for sure. Also, I would not buy anything that didn't have siding. While the siding doesn't look as nice, the other "siding" if it gets a hole on it, the wafer board will absorb moisture and you're done. It can't be repaired. Anyway, here's the video to show you what you're getting into.

buy used. Campers are like cars they take a beating in value as soon as you pull it off the lot. There are a lot of campers available that were seldom if ever used.

Also, I would bide my time and buy one used. Let the other guy take the enormous hit. They come up cheap if you are willing to wait. People just buy one and figure out it was a waste and want to dump them, often at a big loss. Trouble with this is that the economy is getting much better which makes deals a little harder to come by.

Good video thank you

Buying used is good advice. Not too old, as nothing works when you get it. And everything takes maintenance. We bought a used one, and it got totaled by hail. (darn it) Still good to use and it's paid for and don't have to buy insurance. I'm okay with camping primitive as far as cooking and bathroom, but a shelter from wind and rain is nice. Generator for the coffee pot is a must-have, however.

There's options out there that won't take twelve years to pay off.

Have you considered renting one for the limited time you want to use it instead of buying one to sit in the yard for maybe 50 of 52 weeks each year?

[quote=EdP]Have you considered renting one for the limited time you want to use it instead of buying one to sit in the yard for maybe 50 of 52 weeks each year? [/quote

This^^

Rent one for several trips and make sure. It's always fun the first time. Rent one for several trips so something can go wrong and see if it's as much fun as you thought. Kind off like a pleasure boat. I've had 3...1 was a fifth wheel and the other 2 were bumper pull. Take into account wear and tear on your truck and make sure you have enough truck for the job. Especially in the mountains. I'd look for a used one that has been kept in a barn

I have a 2013 Aspen Trail. Not well built; I would not buy another. Also mine is single axle. Next time I'll get a double axle.

In 2014 I bought a 2012 Shasta used.
It sold for $32,000 originally, I paid $ 12,000 for it.
The salesman told me the original owner used it two months,and traded it in on a bigger one.
It was like it was brand new.

Since my camping is 7 hours away in Wyoming, I discovered it's cheaper and less stressful to leave it out there for $40 bucks a month in the summer, then pull it home for the winter. One trip pulling it out and back burns an extra $40 bux in gas.

Can't say I've ever met someone who is happy with a travel trailer after 5 years of owning it

I've got a toy hauler I bought new in 2000 . It's starting to show its age but it's paid for .

been camping in trailer for 28 years have own 7 of them you get what you pay for in quality I would buy use but you need to think about what you are going to use it for ,how often are you going camping are you going to travel far [we have bee from Idaho to Maine to Florida ] I would stay away from pop up camper also if you are traveling far make sure you can get to fridge an bathroom while on the road also make sure your truck will pull the weight of trailer .do you have family [kids] we found that it Brough family closer together

get the real queen size bed, 60x80. length is something to think about. we went with a 29 footer, over here, you can get into most sites with a 35 or shorter model. but again most times it`s just the two of us so we {fit}. our house on wheels comes in at 5000# pulled with f-250 4x4 6.1 only way ya know it back there is the gas mileage. get the power vent, it`s great for getting the moisture out after cooking or in the mornings. pay close attention winterizing, the toilet valve will crack if`in you don`t drain it right........ oh, and gray water tanks full up real fast!! one more thing, if you don`t get one with the spray out for your black tank, make sure you fill that tank 3/4 before you pull out and drive around the grounds before you dump. gets the {crap} loosed up for a better dump out. tst made by camco we found is the best for your tank treatments. works good.

Lots of good advice here. To me the biggest thing is to get something you will feel comfortable using. The cost, size and style must fit YOU and your family. Remember you are still camping, you don't have to have a recliner, microwave, Jacuzzi tub, dishwasher, satellite tv and all of the other comforts of home.

For our family, we did not want something that needed to be paid out in payments. We wanted to budget trip money not camper money. We bought a used pop up type camper. it is not a tent it is hard body, all aluminium that we can pull with our conversion van, this allows us to travel comfortably in one vehicle rather than crammed in the cab of a pickup. The camper is also very easy to pull, it is considered a 23 foot trailer but sets up as a 30 foot camper. Sure there are times when I wish it was a full size camper, but not when towing it ( I get 14 miles per gallon in a full size van towing it). We have a fridge, stove with oven, AC, bathroom with shower, sleeps 6 very easy and if we need to all be inside during the day we can all sit comfortably.

I am by no means an expert, we bought ours almost exactly 1 year ago but we have used it quite a bit. Last year we spent about 50 nights in it, including a 3 plus week trip to Michigan. This year we have hard plans in place for that many and more, including almost 5 weeks straight going to the NTA and touring the UP.

Find what fits and enjoy.
Happy camping.

Personally I refuse to borrow money on anything that depreciates.

Campers can be a lot of fun and used ones can be a real bargain if you look them over well and make sure everything works. There is a lot of stuff to go wrong with electric (12V and 110), water, sewer, leakage, etc. Really go over them good.

What you are willing to pay depends on your budget and how much you will use it. I have a 35-footer sitting on a lake in Ontario where I spend several weeks a summer. Next year I will be buying a 22-24 foot model for my wife and I to spend two weeks in the western US. I don't think we will use it much other than that so after that trip I'll decide whether or not to sell it or keep it. Depends on if I will use it for hunting in the fall sometimes. Another thing they are nice for is to have as a place for guests to stay. If I keep it I will probably park it by our campfire and maybe put a small deck on it for that purpose.

Bottom line is that everyone has different wants/needs and you really do not know what will be best for you until you use something a little bit.